The Bank of Japan kept its policy rate at 1.0 percent by an eight to one vote and revised its inflation outlook, signalling a gradual approach to further tightening.

Japan’s corporate goods price index rose 7.1 percent in June from a year earlier, the fastest annual pace since March 2023, accelerating from a revised 6.6 percent in May and beating market expectations of about 6.8 percent, Bank of Japan data showed on Friday. On the month, producer prices rose 0.4 percent. Energy and metals…

Japanese household spending fell in May from a year earlier for a second straight month, but by far less than expected and with a solid rebound on the month, in a mixed reading on whether rising wages are yet reaching consumers. Real spending by households of two or more people dropped 0.4 percent from a…

Japanese workers saw their real wages rise for a fifth consecutive month in May, as nominal pay growth stayed above 3 percent, in a further sign that the country’s long-awaited cycle of rising wages is taking hold. Nominal labour cash earnings rose 3.2 percent from a year earlier, extending a run of increases to a…

Business confidence among Japan’s largest manufacturers rose to an eight year high in the second quarter, according to the Bank of Japan’s closely watched Tankan survey, as firms reported stronger current conditions and maintained robust investment plans despite external uncertainty. The headline index for large manufacturers climbed to plus 22 in the June survey, from…